It is about time! Although, it took the cruel death of George Floyd by three racist cops for White Americans to join minorities in his/her on- going fight against injustice in this country which has always been perpetrated by white men (law enforcement, judges and vigilantes) to finally react nationwide to the abuse and murders of blacks which occurred before and after Floyd’s death.  During this time the following minority citizens were killed by cops and criminals: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, David Dorn, David McAtee, Chris Beaty, Dorian Murrell, Italia Kelly, Marquis Toutant, Patrick Underwood, Calvin Horton Jr, James Scurlock, Javar Harrell, Jorge Gomez, Jose Gutierrez, Victor Cazares, Jr.,  and Marvin Francois.  

In the 1960’s Black Americans held peaceful demonstrations to call attention to racism, injustices and improve the lives of the black population. During this era there were a verity of movements taking place regularly in this country such as the civil rights movement, black power movement gay rights movement, environmental movement, anti-Vietnam war movement, and the student movement to name a few. Further, I also remember a letter written by Martin Luther King while a prisoner in a Birmingham Jail that read, “Freedom is never given voluntarily by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed”. This has always been the driving force behind demonstrations and movements which mostly fell on the deaf ears of white men.

My entire life, white men have been labeled as liars, swindlers, fakes, and backstabbers; not only when dealing with minorities but in dealing with their own race. Most of what he/she possesses was stolen from someone else including the Native Americans. But are quick to accuse and describe minorities as thieves, liars and lazy to direct attention away from themselves and towards other races.

Here is a little history:

Based on the attitudes of most white people, you would assume they have always lived here in North America which is what they want other races to believe which has never been the truth. These people were migrants that came by ships from Britain, France, Portugal, England, Denmark, Europe, Germany, Russia etc., and had little to no possessions upon arriving in this country; like every other immigrants upon arrival calls this country, America, their home.

I should also inform you that Native Americans had lived for tens-of-thousands of years in this country before the white race stepped on its grounds. In fact the Paleo-Indians were the first settlers in this country.

All white men are immigrants from other countries. However, I have always wondered how white men acquired the mindset that because of their color they are and will always be the most powerful, most important, and most intelligent people.

Here is one of my examples of the mindset and belief of quinquagenarian (white men between the ages of 50-59): I was traveling with a white man, who told me, “Black people always accuse  white people of making them slaves by stealing them from their homes and selling them to other white people. However, history states none of that is true. It was black people that sold their own black people to be slaves to white people”.

My head turned so fast to face this man. “I don’t know what book, newspaper, computer blog you read, or television station you have been watching all of these years, but what you just said is an outright hurtful lie!”

No. No, I did not say that to be mean. I said it because its history and it is true. You probably need to read your history about why and how black people became slaves, he said.

You, being a white man cannot tell me anything about being black. I did not just wake up this morning and discover I was black. I was born this color and have been comfortable with my blackness all my life. In fact, my parents raised three more intelligent black children just like me. At this moment, though you are fifty-something; the words coming out of your mouth shows me just how unintelligent and uneducated you are about the history of your own race and that of others”, I replied.

This white man was so angry, he stepped on the accelerator which had us flying up the highway towards a crowd of stopped vehicles and a traffic light that was red. “Stop. Dammit stop, I shouted.” When we skidded to a stop. I looked at him and discovered not only was his face red, but his eyes were watery. This man was unaware that the traffic ahead of us had stopped.

Yes, it took a while. But I do have white friends that I love and trust. We have talked about racial issues such as segregation, past and current school systems. Injustices such as black men being charged with crimes and incarcerated though they were and are still innocent. As well as the differences between what black and white students were taught in school. This is when I discovered their books were rewritten to exclude all injustices the black population had endured because of white men. Including contributions minorities made to this country from fighting in wars to the inventions of various items still used by American citizens today. Meanwhile, all black schools taught black and white history to ensure all students knew about the hardships, resilience and determination of our forefathers to survive and use their creativity to help build and make this country what it has visually and politically become.

Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to a few of our Black American inventors. Yes there are many others:

1) Booker T. Washington was an author, educator, curator, and advisor to multiple presidents of the United States.

2) Charles Drew was a physician, surgeon, and medical researcher, who worked with a Red Cross team to develop blood transfusions during World War II. Drew also invented the bloodmobiles.

3) George Washington Carver invented peanut butter.

4) Madam C. J. Walker invented beauty products which made her the first self-made millionaire in America.

5) Marie Van Brittan Brown devised a system to alert her of strangers at her door and means to contact the authorities. Her invention consists of a camera, peephole, monitors and two-way microphone.

6) Otis Boykins improved the circuit for pacemakers as well as invented the IBM computers, burglar-proof cash registers, chemical air filters, and more.

7) Garnett A. Morgan, William Pots and J.P Knight invented the 3-way traffic signal and the smoke hood used to rescue tunnel construction workers as well as safety hoods for firemen.

8) Phillis Wheatley was the first African American Publisher of a book of poetry. She was also stolen from her home as a child and brought to America.

9) Sarah E. Goods invented the folding cabinet bed.

10) Although the light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison, the innovation used to create longer-lasting light bulbs with carbon filament was invented by Lewis Latimer, an African American, who also invented electricity.

11) Frederick M. Jones, innovations for long-haul refrigeration prevent perishable goods from spoiling. This is just a sample. However, many African American inventors, scientists, mathematicians, and chemists possess 25 or more patents.